How to Wash Pillows (Without Ruining Them)

Here’s a fun fact I learned a little too late—you’re supposed to wash your pillows. Not just the pillowcases, the actual pillows. I know. I feel betrayed, too. For years, I thought changing the pillowcase every week meant I was doing my due diligence on the pillow front. Meanwhile, the pillow itself was busy collecting sweat, drool, dead skin cells, and who knows what else. Sweet dreams, right? Ew.

So, I did what any grown woman would do after realizing her entire sleep setup might be harboring… gross things—I Googled. I read all the articles. I did a test run. And now I’m here to tell you—yes, you can wash your pillows in the washing machine. And yes, you absolutely should. You just need to know how to do it right.

First Things First: What Are Your Pillows Made Of?

Both are washable (yay!), but they need slightly different care. If your pillow has a tag, give it a read before tossing it in the wash. If the tag says “dry clean only,” then unfortunately, that’s your answer. (Or at least your excuse to finally replace it with one that IS washable.)

Washing Synthetic or Polyester Pillows

These are the workhorses of the pillow world and usually the easiest to clean.

Here’s how:

1. Wash two at a time (if you can) to balance the load in the washer.
2. Use cold or warm water and a gentle cycle.
3. Add a small amount of mild detergent—no need to go overboard here.
4. If your machine has an extra rinse setting, use it to make sure you get all the soap out.

Drying:

• Toss the pillows in the dryer on low heat with a couple of clean tennis balls (or dryer balls) to help fluff them back up. If you don’t have any tennis balls, it’s not the end of the world—just go without. I do it all the time.
• Make sure they’re completely dry—damp pillows = mold.

Washing Down or Feather Pillows

This sounds scarier than it is. I promise you can do it—just treat them gently.

Here’s how:

1. Again, wash two at a time if your washer allows.
2. Use cold water and the delicate cycle.
3. Stick with a gentle, low-suds detergent—down doesn’t like harsh chemicals.
4. Avoid liquid fabric softener. It weighs down the feathers and messes with the fluff factor.

Drying:

• Low heat and a lot of patience. Down takes longer to dry.
• Add dryer balls or tennis balls in socks to help break up clumps. Again, if you don’t have any—it will be okay, I promise. They’re just helpful.
• It might take a couple of cycles. Just keep checking until they’re totally dry and fluffy again.

Wait… Should I Bleach Them?

I get it. You’re staring at your formerly-white pillows and thinking, there’s no way detergent alone is enough. But before you reach for the bleach, here’s the thing:

You can bleach pillows—but it’s not always a great idea.
Bleach can break down fabric fibers and even damage feather or down filling. If your pillows are synthetic, a little bleach might be okay once in a while, but you’re better off trying:

• White vinegar in the wash for odor.
• Baking soda for freshness.
• A sunny afternoon—put those suckers outside. The UV rays help naturally disinfect and brighten even the dingiest pillow.

Also, if your pillow is really stained or yellowed, it might be time to stop fighting and start shopping. Most pillows need to be replaced every 1–2 years anyway.

A Few Extra Pro Tips From Yours Truly

• Frequency: Every 4–6 months is a good rule of thumb. (Add a calendar reminder. You’ll forget. I know, because I always do, heh)
• Protect: Pillow protectors are your new best friend. They add an extra layer between your face and the pillow stuffing and are much easier to toss in the wash weekly.
• Fluff regularly: Fluffing the pillows each day when you make the bed helps redistribute the filling and keep your pillows from going flat and looking sad.
• New pillows: When you get new pillows—especially those vacuum-sealed, flattened-to-a-pancake ones (thanks, Amazon)—toss them straight into the dryer. It fluffs them up way better than any amount of shaking or punching ever could. I usually add a dryer sheet too, just to give them a little boost of freshness while they tumble their way to fluffy perfection.

Final Thoughts from a Former Pillow Neglecter

Washing pillows used to be on my list of things I felt vaguely guilty about and never got around to—like oil changes in my car and cleaning out my coffee maker (which I haven’t done in so long I can’t remember, oof). But it turns out, it’s not hard. And the payoff is big. There’s something so comforting about laying your head down at night knowing you’re not breathing in six months’ worth of who knows what.

So go ahead. Toss those pillows in the wash. Dry them slowly. Fluff them with enthusiasm. Then crawl into bed like the domestic goddess you are. Clean pillows just hit different, trust me.